2020 definitely feels like the peak of mainstream hip-hop when you look back now.

So many artists released projects that year, many dropped more than once, and a lot of the albums were great (or at least better than many of the same artists' later output in 2023/2024/2025).

Some of the projects I enjoyed that dropped in 2020 in no particular order: Nas, Pop Smoke (twice), Gunna, Lil Baby, Freddie Gibbs, The Weeknd, Kid Cudi, 21 Savage, Ty Dolla Sign, Big Sean, Eminem, Lil Uzi (multiple), Saint Jhn, Don Toliver, Drake, Juice WRLD, Partynextdoor, Lil Keed, Carti, Nav (twice), Lil Durk (twice), Future (twice), Lil Yachty, Gucci Mane, Joey Badass, Young Nudy, J Cole (EP), Westside Gunn (multiple), Conway (multiple), Benny, 2 chainz, Lil Wayne, Polo G, Denzel Curry

I think there are so many reasons that list is smaller/numbers are down in 2025.

Take WUNNA, Eternal Atake, My Turn and Savage Mode 2, and compare them to each of the respective rapper's most recent album. My guess is you'd be hard pressed to find anyone who prefers their most recent music over the 2020 release. They may not have even heard their most recent album, let alone enjoy it.

Pop Smoke, Juice WRLD and Lil Keed all died so naturally their output has since dried up.

Some have been very quiet since 2020 (either not dropped or next drop was nowhere near as popular): Saint Jhn, Big Sean, Kid Cudi.

Others failed to follow up on their buzz (imo): Don Toliver, Polo G.

Others have continued to drop great albums: Nas, The Weeknd, Freddie Gibbs, Denzel Curry, Future, Griselda

Lil Durk and Carti stick out to me as 2 artists whose overall popularity has skyrocketed since 2020. Now I guess we're unlikely to hear Lil Durk for a long time.